scholarly journals Profiling Commenters on Mental Health–Related Online Forums: A Methodological Example Focusing on Eating Disorder–Related Commenters

10.2196/12555 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e12555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan McCaig ◽  
Mark T Elliott ◽  
Cynthia SQ Siew ◽  
Lukasz Walasek ◽  
Caroline Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Community Detection ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Related

Background Understanding the characteristics of commenters on mental health–related online forums is vital for the development of effective psychological interventions in these communities. The way in which commenters interact can enhance our understanding of their characteristics. Objective Using eating disorder–related (EDR) forums as an example, this study detailed a methodology that aimed to determine subtypes of mental health–related forums and profile their commenters based on the other forums to which they contributed. Methods The researchers identified all public EDR forums (with ≥500 contributing commenters between March 2017 and February 2018) on a large Web-based discussion platform (Reddit). A mixed-methods approach comprising network analysis with community detection, text mining, and manual review identified subtypes of EDR forums. For each subtype, another network analysis with community detection was conducted using the EDR forum commenter overlap between 50 forums on which the commenters also commented. The topics of forums in each detected community were then manually reviewed to identify the shared interests of each subtype of EDR forum commenters. Results Six subtypes of EDR forums were identified, to which 14,024 commenters had contributed. The results focus on 2 subtypes—proeating disorder and thinspiration—and communities of commenters within both subtypes. Within the proeating disorder subtype, 3 communities of commenters were detected that related to the body and eating, mental health, and women, appearance, and mixed topics. With regard to the thinspiration group, 78.17% (849/1086) of commenters had also commented on pornographic forums and 16.66% (181/1086) had contributed to proeating disorder forums. Conclusions The article exemplifies a methodology that provides insight into subtypes of mental health–related forums and the characteristics of their commenters. The findings have implications for future research and Web-based psychological interventions. With the publicly available data and code provided, researchers can easily reproduce the analyses or utilize the methodology to investigate other mental health–related forums.

scholarly journals Profiling Commenters on Mental Health–Related Online Forums: A Methodological Example Focusing on Eating Disorder–Related Commenters (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Duncan McCaig ◽  
Mark T Elliott ◽  
Cynthia SQ Siew ◽  
Lukasz Walasek ◽  
Caroline Meyer
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Network Analysis ◽  
Community Detection ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Online Forums ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Health Related

BACKGROUND Understanding the characteristics of commenters on mental health–related online forums is vital for the development of effective psychological interventions in these communities. The way in which commenters interact can enhance our understanding of their characteristics. OBJECTIVE Using eating disorder–related (EDR) forums as an example, this study detailed a methodology that aimed to determine subtypes of mental health–related forums and profile their commenters based on the other forums to which they contributed. METHODS The researchers identified all public EDR forums (with ≥500 contributing commenters between March 2017 and February 2018) on a large Web-based discussion platform (Reddit). A mixed-methods approach comprising network analysis with community detection, text mining, and manual review identified subtypes of EDR forums. For each subtype, another network analysis with community detection was conducted using the EDR forum commenter overlap between 50 forums on which the commenters also commented. The topics of forums in each detected community were then manually reviewed to identify the shared interests of each subtype of EDR forum commenters. RESULTS Six subtypes of EDR forums were identified, to which 14,024 commenters had contributed. The results focus on 2 subtypes—proeating disorder and thinspiration—and communities of commenters within both subtypes. Within the proeating disorder subtype, 3 communities of commenters were detected that related to the body and eating, mental health, and women, appearance, and mixed topics. With regard to the thinspiration group, 78.17% (849/1086) of commenters had also commented on pornographic forums and 16.66% (181/1086) had contributed to proeating disorder forums. CONCLUSIONS The article exemplifies a methodology that provides insight into subtypes of mental health–related forums and the characteristics of their commenters. The findings have implications for future research and Web-based psychological interventions. With the publicly available data and code provided, researchers can easily reproduce the analyses or utilize the methodology to investigate other mental health–related forums.

scholarly journals Pathways to Mental Health–Related Treatment Among Caregiving Spouses

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 358-358
Author(s):  
Hyojin Choi ◽  
Kristin Litzelman ◽  
Molly Maher ◽  
Autumn Harnish
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Health Condition ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Provider Type ◽  
Hospital Emergency Room ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Nationally Representative

Abstract Spouses of cancer survivors are 33% less likely to receive guideline-concordant depression treatment than other married adults. However, depression is only one of many manifestations of psychological distress for caregivers. This exploratory study sought to assess the paths by which caregivers access mental health-related treatment. Using nationally representative data from the Medical Expenditures Panel Survey, we assessed the proportion of caregivers who received a mental health-related prescription or psychotherapy visit across care settings (office based versus outpatient hospital, emergency room, or inpatient visit), provider type (psychiatric, primary care, other specialty, or other), and visit purpose (regular checkup, diagnosis and treatment, follow-up, psychotherapy, other). In addition, we assessed the health condition(s) associated with the treatment. The findings indicate that a plurality of caregivers accessed mental health-related treatment through an office-based visit (90%) with a primary care provider (47%). A minority accessed this care through a psychologist or psychiatrist (11%) or a physician with another specialty (12%) or other provider types. Nearly a third accessed treatment as part of a regular check-up (32%). These patterns did not differ from the general population after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Interestingly, mental health-related treatments were associated with a mental health diagnosis in only a minority of caregivers. The findings confirm the importance of regular primary care as a door way to mental healthcare, and highlight the range of potential paths to care. Future research will examine the correlates of accessing care across path types.

Meditation, Mindfulness, and Mental Health

2022 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Sanjeev Kumar Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Chronic Pain ◽  
Eating Disorder ◽  
Borderline Personality Disorder ◽  
Personality Disorder ◽  
Emotional And Behavioral Disorders ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Mindfulness Practices ◽  
Anxiety Depression

In the last six decades, the concept of mindfulness has been widely studied, researched, and practiced in mainstream psychology, mental health, and health disciplines. Over a period of time, clinical practitioners have integrated meditation and mindfulness practices or techniques in the mainstream psychological interventions for emotional and behavioral disorders such as anxiety, depression, chronic pain, borderline personality disorder, and eating disorder. This chapter highlights the application of Mindfulness-Based Interventions in various clinical and non-clinical samples. It also covers the importance of mindfulness practices for the crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, discusses integrating technology into mindfulness training, and presents various issues and challenges related to mindfulness practices.

Intimate Partner Violence Among Persons With Mental Health-Related Disabilities in Canada

2020 ◽  
pp. 088626052091258
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Brownridge ◽  
Tamara Taillieu ◽  
Marcelo L. Urquia ◽  
Alexandra Lysova ◽  
Ko Ling Chan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Intimate Partner Violence ◽  
Partner Violence ◽  
General Social Survey ◽  
Intimate Partner ◽  
Elevated Risk ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Nationally Representative

This study examined the elevated risk of intimate partner violence (IPV) among persons with mental health-related disabilities (MH-RD) and the extent to which known risk factors accounted for this phenomenon. Data were drawn from a nationally representative sample of 33,127 Canadians collected in 2014 as part of Statistics Canada’s General Social Survey. Results showed that respondents with MH-RD had more than three-fold increased odds of both overall and severe IPV victimization. Although females were more likely to possess a MH-RD, males and females with MH-RD reported similarly elevated odds of IPV victimization. Risk factors that contributed to a significant reduction in elevated odds of IPV for respondents with MH-RD were child maltreatment (CM), respondents’ nonprescription drug abuse, and perpetrators’ jealous, monitoring, and socially isolating behaviors. The inability to test additional risk factors and bidirectionality in the relationship between MH-RD and IPV may have contributed to the failure to fully account for these respondents’ elevated odds of IPV. Future research is needed to understand the complex mechanisms contributing to the elevated risk of IPV and enhance prevention and intervention strategies for this underresearched and underserved vulnerable population.

Empirically Supported Psychological Treatments: Cognitive Processing Therapy

2012 ◽  
pp. 438-448
Author(s):  
Kathleen M. Chard ◽  
Jennifer Schuster Wachen ◽  
Patricia A. Resick
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Cognitive Processing ◽  
Treatment Effectiveness ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Cognitive Processing Therapy ◽  
Institute Of Medicine ◽  
Psychological Treatments ◽  
Empirically Supported ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) has been recognized by the Institute of Medicine (2007) as one of the most effective treatments for PTSD. This chapter provides a brief overview of the CPT session content, the underlying mechanisms of the therapy, a review of the empirically based literature outlining the treatment effectiveness, limitations of the therapy, and areas of future research. In addition, the authors discuss the utility of the various versions of CPT, including cognitive only (CPT-C), group, individual, and combination. Further the research supporting the effectiveness of CPT for treating PTSD related to a variety of traumas, (e.g., combat, child abuse, and rape) and the significant impact CPT can have in areas of mental health related to PTSD (e.g., anger, guilt, social functioning) are described.

scholarly journals Pet Ownership and Quality of Life: A Systematic Review of the Literature

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 332
Author(s):  
Kristel J. Scoresby ◽  
Elizabeth B. Strand ◽  
Zenithson Ng ◽  
Kathleen C. Brown ◽  
Charles Robert Stilz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
The Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Pet Ownership ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Prospective Longitudinal ◽  
The Impact

Pet ownership is the most common form of human–animal interaction, and anecdotally, pet ownership can lead to improved physical and mental health for owners. However, scant research is available validating these claims. This study aimed to review the recent peer reviewed literature to better describe the body of knowledge surrounding the relationship between pet ownership and mental health. A literature search was conducted in May 2020 using two databases to identify articles that met inclusion/exclusion criteria. After title review, abstract review, and then full article review, 54 articles were included in the final analysis. Of the 54 studies, 18 were conducted in the general population, 15 were conducted in an older adult population, eight were conducted in children and adolescents, nine focused on people with chronic disease, and four examined a specific unique population. Forty-one of the studies were cross-sectional, 11 were prospective longitudinal cohorts, and two were other study designs. For each of the articles, the impact of pet ownership on the mental health of owners was divided into four categories: positive impact (n = 17), mixed impact (n = 19), no impact (n = 13), and negative impact (n = 5). Among the reviewed articles, there was much variation in population studied and study design, and these differences make direct comparison challenging. However, when focusing on the impact of pet ownership on mental health, the results were variable and not wholly supportive of the benefit of pets on mental health. Future research should use more consistent methods across broader populations and the development of a pet-ownership survey module for use in broad, population surveys would afford a better description of the true relationship of pet ownership and mental health.

scholarly journals How Confidence in Prior Attitudes, Social Tag Popularity, and Source Credibility Shape Confirmation Bias Toward Antidepressants and Psychotherapy in a Representative German Sample: Randomized Controlled Web-Based Study (Preprint)

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Schweiger ◽  
Ulrike Cress
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Information Search ◽  
Source Credibility ◽  
Scientific Evidence ◽  
Confirmation Bias ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Related Information ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Prior Attitudes ◽  
Blog Posts

BACKGROUND In health-related, Web-based information search, people should select information in line with expert (vs nonexpert) information, independent of their prior attitudes and consequent confirmation bias. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to investigate confirmation bias in mental health–related information search, particularly (1) if high confidence worsens confirmation bias, (2) if social tags eliminate the influence of prior attitudes, and (3) if people successfully distinguish high and low source credibility. METHODS In total, 520 participants of a representative sample of the German Web-based population were recruited via a panel company. Among them, 48.1% (250/520) participants completed the fully automated study. Participants provided prior attitudes about antidepressants and psychotherapy. We manipulated (1) confidence in prior attitudes when participants searched for blog posts about the treatment of depression, (2) tag popularity —either psychotherapy or antidepressant tags were more popular, and (3) source credibility with banners indicating high or low expertise of the tagging community. We measured tag and blog post selection, and treatment efficacy ratings after navigation. RESULTS Tag popularity predicted the proportion of selected antidepressant tags (beta=.44, SE 0.11; P<.001) and blog posts (beta=.46, SE 0.11; P<.001). When confidence was low (−1 SD), participants selected more blog posts consistent with prior attitudes (beta=−.26, SE 0.05; P<.001). Moreover, when confidence was low (−1 SD) and source credibility was high (+1 SD), the efficacy ratings of attitude-consistent treatments increased (beta=.34, SE 0.13; P=.01). CONCLUSIONS We found correlational support for defense motivation account underlying confirmation bias in the mental health–related search context. That is, participants tended to select information that supported their prior attitudes, which is not in line with the current scientific evidence. Implications for presenting persuasive Web-based information are also discussed. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03899168; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03899168 (Archived by WebCite at http://www.webcitation.org/77Nyot3Do)

scholarly journals The association between mental health and physical fitness in Norwegian adolescents

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Åvitsland ◽  
Eva Leibinger ◽  
Tommy Haugen ◽  
Øystein Lerum ◽  
Runar Barstad Solberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Body Composition ◽  
Physical Fitness ◽  
Cardiorespiratory Fitness ◽  
Muscular Strength ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Strengths And Difficulties ◽  
Adjusted Model ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: Studies indicate that cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and body composition are associated with mental health. However, research is scarce concerning this relationship in young adolescents in general and non-existent in Norwegian populations specifically. The aim of the study was to examine the relationship between different health-related aspects of physical fitness and self-reported mental health in Norwegian adolescents. Methods: Participants from four regions of Norway (n = 1486; mean age = 13.9; girls = 50.6%) completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and were measured for cardiorespiratory fitness, muscular strength and body composition. Linear mixed effects models were conducted to assess the associations between the health-related aspects of physical fitness and the total difficulties score of the questionnaire. Results: Body composition was not associated with total difficulties score. Muscular strength independently was associated with total difficulties score, but when all independent variables were entered in the fully adjusted model, only cardiorespiratory fitness was associated with total difficulties score. School clusters were included as random effects and all models were controlled for sex, socioeconomic status and birthplace (domestic or foreign). Conclusions: A small but significant negative association between cardiorespiratory fitness and total difficulties score indicated that higher cardiorespiratory fitness predicted better mental health in Norwegian adolescents. The results suggest that muscular strength is not associated with mental health in adolescents, when controlling for cardiorespiratory fitness. Future research on how exercise affects mental health should investigate whether there is a greater effect for participants who improve their cardiorespiratory fitness.

scholarly journals Does time heal all wounds?: the changing mental health of refugees over time

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Nicole Fraser
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Service Providers ◽  
Mental Healthcare ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Traumatic Experiences ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Psychological Interventions ◽  
Health Changes ◽  
The World ◽  
Migration Factors

An increase of ongoing armed conflicts has resulted in substantial numbers of refugees around the world. The traumatic experiences refugees face can be detrimental to their mental health, further compounded by resettlement stressors upon arrival in Canada. This qualitative study incorporates an intersectional social determinants of health framework in order to understand the changes in mental health of refugees at different stages of a lifelong (re)settlement process. The findings of this study are informed by interviews with five service providers. Results indicated a number of salient post-migration factors that influence mental health in both the short and over the longer term for refugees and further elucidated the effects of a mutually-reinforcing relationship between resettlement stressors and trauma in mental health changes. Implications of the study findings reveal a critical need for a more psychosocial approach to be taken regarding refugee mental healthcare in future research as well as psychological interventions.

scholarly journals Orthorexic Tendency in Polish Students: Exploring Association with Dietary Patterns, Body Satisfaction and Weight

Nutrients ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Plichta ◽  
Marzena Jezewska-Zychowicz ◽  
Jerzy Gębski
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Patterns ◽  
Body Satisfaction ◽  
Eating Behaviors ◽  
The Body ◽  
Orthorexia Nervosa ◽  
Upper Body ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Health Related ◽  
Frequent Consumption ◽  
Satisfaction Factors

Body dissatisfaction is central to clinically diagnosed eating disorders (ED) and seems to be important in causing other non-clinical disorders, including orthorexia nervosa (ON). It can also affect eating behaviors. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of ON tendency with dietary patterns (DPs) and body satisfaction. The data were collected in 2017 through questionnaire survey among 1120 students of health-oriented and other academic programs from seven universities in Poland. Principal components analysis (PCA) was conducted to derive DPs and body satisfaction factors. Six DPs, such as, ‘High-sugar products & snacks’, ‘Fresh products & nuts’, ‘Fatty products & dressings’, ‘Oils & potatoes’, ‘Dairy products & whole-meal bread’, ‘Meat’, and two body satisfaction factors, such as, ‘Bottom body & weight’, and ‘Upper body’ were identified. ON tendency was measured using ORTO-15 questionnaire with both cut-offs, i.e., 35 and 40. Logistic regression analysis was used to verify associations between ON tendency, body satisfaction factors, and DPs. More students of health related majors were characterized by ON tendency in comparison to students of other majors (35.9 vs. 37.2; p < 0.001). More women were dissatisfied with ‘Bottom body & weight compared to men (<0.001). The higher the body mass index (BMI), the more people were dissatisfied with ‘Bottom body & weight’ (p < 0.001). More students with ON tendency were satisfied with their ‘Upper body’ than those without ON tendency, but there were no differences in ON tendency in regard to ‘Bottom body & weight’ satisfaction. ON tendency was associated with more frequent consumption of vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds, and less frequent consumption of products high in sugar, snacks, fatty products and dressings. Using cut-off at 35 in ORTO-15 seems to be more appropriate than cut-off at 40 to identify external variables describing ON. Future research on orthorexia nervosa should use other research tools than ORTO-15 to better identify individuals with ON and to confirm our findings.

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